Fireplace tongs



y March 10, 1964 A M CAHAN' FIREPLACE ToNGs Filed April 2, 1962 UnitedStates Patent C) 3,124,383 FIREPLACE TONGS Alvin M. Cahan, 84 CarltonRoad, Waban, Mass. Filed Apr. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 184,351 S Claims. (Cl.294-11) hearth.

Another objective is to provide levered tongs capable of picking uppieces of firewood of an extremely widev range of sizes, from very smallembers and sticks to Very large logs.

"Yet another objective is to provide tongs which are simple `tomanufacture and manipulate and which have no complicated parts.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of one preferred embodiment of theinvention in a partially open position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective of the tongs of FIG. 1 in the closed position;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. l, with portions brokenaway, showing the manner in which a medium sized log can be gripped;

FIG. 4 is aside View of the closed device of FIG. 2 being introducedbetween two logs;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing the relation of the tongs tothe log when the tongs are twisted, preparatory to pushing or draggingthe log as desired;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the tongs taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a View of the embodiment of FIG. 1, with parts broken away,showing the tongs picking up a small stick;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the tongs of FIGL 1, on a substantially reducedscale, showing the tongs picking up a large log;

.comprise two members 14 and 16 pivotally connected on axle 18 andextending downwardly from the axle to grip firewood.` Supporting member14 has two oppositely directed faces 2i) and 22 extending from the lowerend of the member toward the axle 18. Each of these faces is elongatedand substantially straight. They are substan- 'tially parallel so thelowest portion of the faces are spaced apart no greater distance thanthe portions closer to the axle.

The second or gripping member 16 has a transverse projection 26 opposedto face 22 of member 14 when the tongs are open, as seen in FIG. 1.

The gripping member also defines a surface portion 25 spaced from vandopposed to the upper surface of projection 26 sufriciently to engage theperiphery of logs at a point spaced from where the projection engagesthem.

The projection 26 is sharply pointed, and its upper surface extendsinwardly from its point away from surface 22 when the tongs are open. Ascan be seen in FIG. 7, the portion of this surface immediately adjacentthe point 26 of projection 26 is substantially tangent to the circledrawn from axle 18 as the center through the point 26'.

In this embodiment surface 25 is defined by a second projection 29extending towards the supporting member when the tongs are open, and itsouter end is sharply pointed at 29.

As shown, preferably, a continuous surface extends between the points,indented from the points away from the surface 22 of the opposed member14 when the tongs are open, and, as shown, the surface is preferablyconcave and has its greatest rate of curvature in the middle, formede.g. by two parabolic or catenary sections joined together.

Member 14 is preferably in the form of two legs which are spaced apart,and member 16 pivots between them to carry projections 26 and 29 pastthe face 22 of member 14 to extend beyond its back face 2t) when thetongs are closed.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 7, the point 26' of the outer projection 26,the tip 24 of member 14 and the tip 27 of member 16 have the same radialextent from axle 18. The tips 24 and 27 are tapered to provide a smoothpointed form when they are closed together, as seen in FIG. 2.

The over-all thickness of the closed tongs is substantially greater inthe vicinity of the projections than the latters thicknesses. The sidesurfaces 28, 30 (FIGS. 1, 6) of the tongs are substantially straight,here parallel, and the projections lie entirely between planes passedthrough the corresponding portions of these side surfaces, parallel tothe projections.

Members 14 and 16 each have an extension, 15 and 17 respectively,projecting upwardly from axle 18 a distance greater than the extent ofthe respective members downwardly from the axle, providing levers toactuate the members.

The ybody of member 16 is a metal bar and the projections 26 and 29 areformed from a single metal plate cut in the desired indented form, theplate and bar welded together at 32.

The extension 15 of member 14 is in the form of a U, and both legs ofthe member are formed from a single bar. The extension 17 of member 16enters the space between the upper portions of the U, and a cross-member38, secured to extension 17, forms a stop to align the outer surfaces ofthe two members when the tongs are closed and to permit opening only inthe proper direction. The top of the U, 36, is open to receive a peg forsupporting the tongs when not in use.

Various uses of the fire tongs will now be described.

Referring to FIG. 3, a medium-sized log 42 is gripped between member 14on the bottom and member 16 on the top. The log has a diameter less thanthe spacing between projections 26 and 29 and is gripped by the indentedsurface of member 16, contacting it at two spacedapart points andcontacting the face 22 of member 14. Even though the face 22 isstraight, the log is restrained from downward movement, due to theaction of projection 26. The three space-apart points of contact lockthe log against pivoting between the members, even when the log isgrasped near an end far from its center of gravity. After the log isplaced in the fire, member 16 is pivoted upwardly to the dotted positionshown, and the log rolls and slides into the fire while member 14 ispulled out axially, a motion which neither disturbs the fire nor isblocked by the top of the fireplace, even with Very small fireplaces.The faces 2t), 22 of the supporting member are closely spaced andgenerally parallel so that withdrawal does not interfere with the logs.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the tongs are closed, and turned so theprojections extend horizontally, the tapered end of the tongs isinserted between logs 44 and 48 and the tongs are slid to the positionshown, straight surfaces 23 and 30 sliding relative to the logs holdingthem separate. When the projections 26 and 29 lie on opposite sides of alog, the tongs can be twisted raising the projections to the positionshown in FIG. 5 and in dotted lines in FIG. 6. Then if a log is to bedragged forward, the projection annessa 26 pulls the log, and if the logis to be pushed rearwardly, rojection 29 pushes the log. In eitherevent, the projection 29 can prevent the log from rolling forward out ofthe fireplace. After the log is in the desired position, the nre tongscan be twisted to return the projection to the horizontal plane, and thetongs can then oe removed. It will be appreciated that separation of thelogs 44 and 45 by the body of the tongs enables the insertion of theprojections between the logs without binding.

Referring to FIG. 7, a small stick can be gripped between the point 2eof the outer projection, and the tip 24 of member 14. If the point 26 ispositioned under the stick, movement together of members 14 and 16causes the `face 22 of member 14 to carry the stick up the indentedsurface of member 16 into the locked position shown in dotted linesbetween member 14 and the innermost portion of the indented surface. Theconcavely curved surface with greatest rate of curvature in the middleperforms this function as well as the spaced point grip function.

Small embers can be picked up from the oor and hearth between the point26 and tip 24, the tongs performing as delicate forceps.

Referring to FIG. 8, which is on a smaller scale than the other figures,the tire tongs can engage a very large log 52 with the points 26' and 29digging into the bark of the log and gripping it against member 14. Thepoints allow equal gripping, and the long levers enable the large logsto be gripped very tightly, even though the supporting member has asubstantially straight surface. Easy release occurs in the same manneras with medium-sized logs.

Referring to FlG. 9, if the user is willing to forego the abovedescribed dragging and pushing function of the fire tongs, it can easilybe made self-supporting. Here the legs 14 and 14 are outwardly inopposite directions near their lower ends, and together with projection26 define a tripod upon which the tire tongs can stand.

The invention comprehends the formation of each of the members of one ora number of pieces joined together, it being possible, for instance, tomake member 16 from a single rod bent to form projection 26 and surfaceZ7. Under some circumstances the inner projection on the gripping membercan be omitted, the member defining a surface substantially opposed tothe upper surface of the lower projection which can engage the logperiphery. But two projections with the indented surface connecting themenables extremely effective gripping of both largeand medium-sized logs.This surface may be defined by straight surfaces or curves of variousforms; but where the tongs are to raise smalland medium-sized rewood onclosing, it is best for the surface to curve concavely upwardly from thelower point as noted above.

The tongs in cross-section can be rounded.

Numerous other modifications of the specific details of the inventioncan be made within its spirit and scope.

What is claimed is:

l. Fireplace tongs comprising an elongated rigid substantially straightsupporting member and an elongated rigid gripping member, said memberspivotally connected intermediate their ends, said straight supportingmember dening rst and second oppositely directed substantially straightslide surfaces, the first slide surface directed toward the grippingmember when the tongs are open, said gripping member rigidly providingupper and lower pointed transverse projections extending toward saidsupporting member and opposed to it when the tongs are open, the lowerprojection having its point lying at the same radial distance from theApivot axis as the lower tip of said straight supporting member, theupper projection spaced apart from the lower projection in the directionof said pivot axis, but spaced substantially downward from said axis, anindented surface extending from the point of said lower projection tothe point of said upper projection, said indented surface directedtoward said straight supporting member when the tongs are open, saidstraight supporting member adapted to move past the point of the lowerprojection on closing, the tip -of said straight supporting member andthe lower projection of said gripping member thereby enabling the tongst0 pick up embers and small sticks, the indented surface and thestraight supporting member enabling the tongs to grip intermediate sizedlogs, the points of said spaced projections and the straight supportingmember enabling the tongs to grip larger logs, and the straightsupporting member enabling the tongs to be inserted between logs andwithdrawn therefrom in straight line movement.

2. The fireplace tongs of claim l wherein the points of the twoprojections and the straight supporting member are cooperativelyarranged to contact a large log'at three or more points spaced about theperiphery of the log that lie substantially in a single planeapproximately parallel to the straight supporting member, said tongsbeing adapted when closed together to provide a form which can be slidbodily between adjacent logs.

3. Fireplace tongs comprising an elongated rigid substantially straightsupporting member and an elongated rigid gripping member, said memberspivotally connected intermediate their ends, said straight supportingmember defining first and second oppositely directed substantiallystraight slide surfaces, the \rst slide surface directed toward thegripping member when the tongs are open, said tongs when closed definingelongated substantially straight sides to engage and slide relative tostationary objects, said gripping member rigidly providing upper andlower transverse projections extending toward said supporting member andopposed to it when the tongs are open, said members being cooperativelyshaped to close together with the projections of the gripping memberextending transversely beyond said second slide surface of the straightsupporting member, the lower ends of said members shaped tocooperatively provide a tapered form to promote insertion betweenfirewood pieces, the thickness of said tongs when closed, measuredperpendicular to said sides, being substantially greater adjacent saidprojections than the thickness of said projections, said projectionslying entirely between planes through the outermost portions of said twosides, which planes are parallel to the direction of extension of saidprojections, whereby said tongs when closed can be inserted by straightline movement between logs in a fire and, by the twisting of said tongs,said upper and lower projections enable a log lying between lthevprojections to be pushed and pulled into the proper position in thefire.

4. Fireplace tongs comprising an elongated rigid substantially straightsupporting member and an elongated rigid gripping member, said memberspivotally connected intermediate their ends, said gripping memberrigidly providing near its lower end a pointed transverse projectionextending toward said straight supporting member and opposed to it whenthe tongs are open, said grippmg member also providing a rewoodengaging' surface extending from the point of said transverse projectionupwardly and initially away from and then back toward said supportingmember when said tongs are open, the point of said projection lying onthe circumference of a circle centered at the pivot axis of the membersand passing through the lower tip 0f the straight supporting member, theportion of said firewood engaging surface immediately adjacent to thepoint of said projection being substantially tangent to said circlewhereby closing together of said members allows a stick initially to beengaged by said projection lfrom beneath and by the lower tip of saidstraight supporting member from the side, and upon continued closing ofsaid tongs,l to be carried up said firewood engaging Surface untillocked against the portion 0f said surface that extends back toward saidstraight supporting member.

5. The tongs of claim 4 wherein said rewood engaging surface consists ofupper and lower curved surfaces and a Curved Center POItiOn, said lowercurved surface beginning at the point of said projection and extendingupward and away from said straight supporting member when the tongs areopen, said upper curved surface extending substantially opposed to `andabove said lower curved surface, said curved center portion joining saidupper and lower curved surfaces at their ends farthest from the straightsupporting member when the tongs are open, said curved center portionhaving a rate of curvature higher than the rates of curvature of theupper and lower curved surfaces, whereby the tongs are adapted to graspa small stick between the point of said projection and the lowerReferences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,089,661 Owen Aug. 10, 1937 2,725,774 Tekse Dec. 6, 1955 3,042,438Turner July 3, 1962

4. FIREPLACE TONGS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED RIGID SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT SUPPORTING MEMBER AND AN ELONGATED RIGID GRIPPING MEMBER, SAID MEMBERS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED INTERMEDIATE THEIR ENDS, SAID GRIPPING MEMBER RIGIDLY PROVIDING NEAR ITS LOWER END A POINTED TRANSVERSE PROJECTION EXTENDING TOWARD SAID STRAIGHT SUPPORTING MEMBER AND OPPOSED TO IT WHEN THE TONGS ARE OPEN, SAID GRIPPING MEMBER ALSO PROVIDING A FIREWOOD ENGAGING SURFACE EXTENDING FROM THE POINT OF SAID TRANSVERSE PROJECTION UPWARDLY AND INITIALLY AWAY FROM AND THEN BACK TOWARD SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER WHEN SAID TONGS ARE OPEN, THE POINT OF SAID PROJECTION LYING ON THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF A CIRCLE CENTERED AT THE PIVOT AXIS OF THE MEMBERS AND PASSING THROUGH THE LOWER TIP OF THE STRAIGHT SUPPORTING MEMBER, THE PORTION OF SAID FIREWOOD ENGAGING SURFACE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE POINT OF SAID PROJECTION BEING SUBSTANTIALLY TANGENT TO SAID CIRCLE WHEREBY CLOSING TOGETHER OF SAID MEMBERS ALLOWS A STICK INITIALLY TO BE ENGAGED BY SAID PROJECTION FROM BENEATH AND BY THE LOWER TIP OF SAID STRAIGHT SUPPORTING MEMBER FROM THE SIDE, AND UPON CONTINUED CLOSING OF SAID TONGS, TO BE CARRIED UP SAID FIREWOOD ENGAGING SURFACE UNTIL LOCKED AGAINST THE PORTION OF SAID SURFACE THAT EXTENDS BACK TOWARD SAID STRAIGHT SUPPORTING MEMBER. 